Key operating and locking bars for voting-machines.



W. J. LAUSTERER. KEY OPERATING AND LOCKING BARS FOR VOTING MAGHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7, 1908.

933,378, Patented Sept. 7, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

nil 4. ave/W116. J

W. J. LAUSTERER. KEY OPERATING AND LOCKING BARS FOR VOTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7, 1908.

v9 0 Mm 9H l m# r @w 78 E w. J m m m .d m W m m 1 Z 8 7 a on m 9 WILLIAM J. LAUSTERER, or JAMESTOWN, New

Your, Assienon TO EMPIRE. vormc MACHINE COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER AND JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK, ACORPORATIC' OF NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters liatent,

KEY OPERATING AND LOCKING Bans Foe votrme-macnmns.

Patented Sept. '7, 1909.

Application ma August 7,-1soa' Serial No. 447,867.

To all whom it 'may com-cm:

Be it known lthatl, YVILLIAM J. LAUS- 'rnnnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jamestown, in the county-of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key 'Operating and Locking Bars for Voting- Machines, of which the following is a specification. I I

My .invention relates to improvements in voting machines, the improvement being applied to a machine such as is described in patent to W. J. Lausterer No. 820,802, May 15. 1906, and has for its object to provide an improved form of straight ticket voting mechanism and a mechanism for locking out the keys in a primary election.

The improvement in theastraight ticket voting mechanism has for its objectmore espe cially to provide an improved form of straight ticket key and a sliding bar connected thereto behindthe keyboard of themachine for operating the ini vidual point;- ers. This straight ticket bar-is made up of sections which can be readily disconnected.

. by a single operating device, all forming a rendered inert without being removed permanent part of the machine. The primary election lockout has for its purpose to lock out the keysby party rows so that but one or more of the party rows of keys may be released at a time for voting operation. This lockout is capable of being from the machine so that the machine may be used in a general electionwithout removing the lockout therefrom. 1

In I'imary elections it will be understood that t e primaries of all the parties are held at the same time and place and that one machine is adjusted to carry the names of all the candidates of all the parties. If the ordinary machine capable of use for general election were labeled with the names of the candidates of the various parties that participate in a primary election, any voter belonging to one party, might vote for some of the 'candidatesof one party and for other candidates of another party. This, however, is strictly forbidden bythe prima election laws of many of the States, such viding that the party afiilia-tions at the polls of the rimar to the election ofiicers before he-wi l be a lockout bar. aws pro voter must announce lns towed to vote, and then he will be allowed by the election oflicers to vote only on the candidates of that particular party. It is mnderstood, of course, that the object of the primary election is to select those candidates which will make up the party tickets in the regular election following thereafter. In order to restrict the voter to candidates of his own part in ary elections, I have devised certa n ad itions to the machine the effect of which is to permit the election officer to release the voting devices belonging to the candidates of but one party, at the same time holdin looked all of the voting devices of all of t e candidates of all the other parties.

The object of my invention. is to restrict the vsuccessive voters in their operation of the machine to the particular parts of'the machine which their party afliliation entitles them tofvote on.

The various features of my invention will be more particularly described in the specification and pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the accompany drawings, Figure 1 represents a rear elevation of a portion of the keyboard of the voting machine with my improved straight ticket mechanism and primary lockout mechanism thereon. Fig. 2 Isa plan view of the straight ticket mechanism and primary lockout, the voting keys being omitted. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the cam bar for disconnecting the sections of a straight'ticket bar. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the cam bar shown in Fig.3 and the handle for adjustin it. Fig. 5 is a detail view in perspective 0% one of the voting keys and a straight ticket bar and the lockout bar.

Fig. 61s a detail view of a portion of two of the locking. bars and the mechanism for operatin them. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the key or operating the lockout bars. Fig. 8 is a perspective .view of the end of the lockout bar and the shaft by whichit is operated. Fig. 9 is a detailview of the hole in the back door of the voting machine through which the key 7 operates-on the In the accompanying drawings like reference numerals refer to'like parts.- v

In-Fig. 1 reference numerals 1 refers to the front plate of the machine on which arefor driving the counter actuator and the connection for the interlocking strap 5; the other of the arms 6 is upturned with the projection 7 for engagement with the straight ticket bar 8 and-the lockout bar 9.

Mounted on the key plate of the machine are the straight ticket keys 10, 10, which straight ticket keys are ,mounted to move at right angles to the key plate. The straight ticket keys have a stem 11 extending through v the key plate,

which stem is connected by sliding engagement with the bell crank 12 pivoted on the bearing rod 13. The other.

end of the bell crank engages with a socket 15 mounted on the plate 14 connected to the straight ticket bar 8. The bell crank 12 is made up of two plates 12, 12 spaced apart on the bearing rod 13 byacollar 16, and the stem 11' of-the straight ticket key is engaged between the ends of the long arms of the bell crank by means of a. pin 17 carried thereon passing through slots 18 in said long arm. The short arms of the bell crank carry between themthe roller 19 which engages with the socket 15 carried on the plate 14. The plate 14 has a recess 20 cut therein by which it spans the stem 11 of the straight ticket key and connects to the straight ticket bar 8 beyondit. This straight ticket bar 8 consists of a series of short sections joined together scribe. When fastened together these sections make a continuous bar having on its upper edge projections or lugs 21 suitable for engagement with the projections 7-7 on the keys 22, so that'when the bars 8 are i moved endwise by pulling out the straight ticket key 10, the key 2 in Fig. 5 will be rotated in the direction-to lift. interlocking strap 5. Or, as viewed in the several Figs. 1, 5, and 6 of the drawings, the keys of the party row will all be rotated-upward to the ri ht.

n. Fig. 1 two. sections of the straight ticket bar 8 are shown connected by the latch 22. As shown in Fig. l the first section of the straight ticket bar is connected directly to the straight ticket key throu h the bell crank 12: the second section of t e straight ticket bar 8 is connected to the first section by the latch 22 pivoted on the'stud 23 on the second section, which latch hooks onto the stud 24; in the first section. The third section of the straight ticket bar may be connected to the second section in like manner and the fourth section to the third, and so on. In order to connect and disconnect these sections at will, I have provided out. Said key 2 is made of a in the manner I am about to de- ,all of the same length.

the bar 25 one-third of its travel will cause the cam 28' to operate to disconnect the fourth section ofthe straight ticket bar. 'If

the sliding cani bar 25 shown in Figs. 1, a, and 4, which cam bar 25 engages by a cam with each of the latches 22,.and for that purose the bar 25 has a separate 'cam for each latch. The cam groove 26' shownat the right in Fig. 3 is the particular form of the cam which is depended upon to engage and operate thelatch 22 in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 1 the latch 22 carries thereon the stud .27, which stud engages with the cam groove 26. \Vhen the bar 25 is moved to the left the stud 27 and its latch 22 are held down positively untilithe stud 27 is engaged by the active portion of the cam, after which by the further movement of the bar 25 the latch 22 is lifted and disengaged from the stud 24. After this disengagement has been completed the first section of the straight ticket bar can 'be movedby the operation of the straight ticket key without moving any of the other sections of the straight ticket bar. As will be seen from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 3 this disengagement of the latch 22 does not occur until after the bar25 has moved the full length of the cam groove 26. v

- As shown in Fig. 3 the cam bar 25- has three cams cut therein each of different shape. The cam groove-28 engages the latch similar to 22 mounted on the fourth section of the straight ticket bar 8 with which stud itwould engage early in themovement of the bar 25 to the left. This bar 25 also has cut therein a cam groove 29 which engages with the stud 27 on the latch 22 carried on the third section of the straight ticket bar. After the bar 25has moved half of the dis-' 'tance it can travel to the left, the cam groove 29 will lift the stud 27 carried on the latch 22 and disconnect in that way the third section of the straight ticket "bar from the second. As, above described the cam groove 26 in turn can disconnect the second section of the straight ticket bar from the first. It will be noticed from an inspection of Fig. 3 that the operation of these cams in the bar 25 is successive. The bar 25 has a total movement equal to .the length of any one of the cam grooves 26, 28, or 29, which cam grooves are The movement of the'bar 25 is moved an additional one-third of its travel it will cause the cam 29 to operate to disconnect the third section, and the last one-third of its travel will cause the cam 26 to'disconnect the second section of the straight ticket bar. To move the bar 25 by regularintervals, it is-providedwith a handle 30 shown inFig. 4'. This handle has four notches 32, 33, 34, and cut therein at equal distances between centers, the specing apart of which notches is adapted to measure the travel of the bar, so as to secure the operation of the cams 28, 29, and 26, as

ticket bar :will

connection with tive latches controlled thereby, moving.the bar ose 37s stud 31 is provided. can befenga'ged for will now bedescribed. A with which ithe'handle 30 the purpose of looking it in four .dilferent positions. If the notch 32 is engaged with the stud 3I all of the sections o-ftlie straight be j locked together: if" the. handle '30 be drawn out so that the. notch 33 eiggages with the stud 31, the fourth section this timejthe earn grooves maintaln positive the studs 27 on therespecthe sections offthestrailghtticket'bar canbe as readily conne'ctedup. again for operation.

It' will be understood,of course, that the sections which have n disconnected remain idle wlille those gsectionsithat remain connected up will be moved by theistr aight' ticket key and will causethe operation of the that are ,ad acent to such connected section.

individual keys To' permit'the movement of -.the straight ticket" bars withoutdisturbing the connec- ,tions between .the sections or without interfering with the ba '25, Iprovidea suflicient clearanceinihe' lower idle part of the 'cams 28, 29, and 26, so that the studs27 of the latches thathave not been disconnected may slide therein When ticket key. without causing the sections of the bar to be disconnected or without otherwise interfering with the bar 25.

Lyingbetween the straight ticket bar 8' and the key plate '1 of the machine is the lockout bar 9,- which lockout bar has projections or lugs 21 formed thereon similar to theprojectlons on the straight ticket bars. If the straight ticket bar is connected up and allowed to rest in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and if the lockout bar 9 is then moved to the left the keys of'that party row will all have their projections 7 engaged between the projcctions 21 on the lockout bar and the straight ticket bar, and will be held firmly against movement in either direction. In this way the straight ticketbar and the keys engaged therewith will serve as a stop for the lockout bar, and the keys will be held firmly locked against movementin either direction between these two bars. It will be further noticed that both of these bars 8 and 9 engage with the same projection 7 on the keys, which projections are made sufficiently long so that they can serve this double purpose. The lockout bars 9 at the right hand end carry a yoke 36 with each of which yokes engages a stud 37 carried-on a crank 38, mounted on a crank shaft e disconnected from the first, but during all.

so that byv 25 inthe reverse direction moved by the straight .This.crank shaft iscapable of operation by thekeyAO. shown in- Fig. 7. flbiskey is hollowed out so ,as; to engage ,.With the shaft- 39,.and= has a. slotted end by whichit can positively engage thestud ll carried on suchshaft 39.

In High 6, are. shown two lockout bars 9,- the upper, one of which is in, unlocking posio' the straight ticketjbarnwill be discontio n permitting, the key QshOWn'thereWith nected fromthe other three. If thenotch to be turned i'reelyto. the right. .It will be 34 engages with the stud 31,th e third section. noticed that theficrank 38 in that figure 'willbe disconnected. from the second, and if stands. parallel to the yoke 36. :The lower the notch 35'en ages .withthe stud 31,- the. barf) in Fig.v 6. has been moved'to the left second section 0' the straight ticket bar .will so as to.lock the key-2 shownin connection bar-9 has been movedgstands at right angles to the yoke .36. Any attempt to rotate the key 2 upward tothelrightwill drive the yoke 36 dead centeredagainst the crank 38,

; by which dead center .the bar. 9 is heldt35 simple and effective construction, b .means therewith, the crank 38 by which; said of which-the keys can be voted. co ectivelv asa'party row, or can be voted collectively by'lone or more .sectionsof such party row, {and by which .all of the keys of the party row may be locked against operation. It is obvious too that disconnecting the str aigl1t.ticket bar from the straight ticket key and moving it to the .left,-the st1'aight ticket bar ma-ybe made toJserve the pur ose of a lockout bar, bars as above described, the same result is secured more conveniently.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and patentable is as follows: 1. The combination in a voting machine of a plate, aseries of pivoted keys arranged thereon in a row, a straight ticket bar mounted on said plateand sliding longitudinally and parallel to said row of keys, a projection on each key, corresponding projections on the bar engaging therewith, and a push key mounted on the plate to move transversely to the movement of the bar, and a bell crank connection between said key and said bar. 2. The combination in a voting machine ,of a series of pivoted keys arranged in-a .row, a straight ticket bar sliding longitudinally and parallel to said row, said bar being but by duplicating t ese made up ofdetachable sections, couplings between said sections, a cam bar controlling said couplings, andmovable progressively to connect or disconnect said couplingssuccessively. I

3. The combination in a voting machine of a series-of pivoted keys arranged in a row, a straight ticket bar sliding longitudinally parallel to said row, said bar being made up of detachable sections, couplingscam for each coupling for operating said couplings, said cams being so positioned that the movement of the bar would operate said couplings in succession. w

5. The combination in a voting machine of a straight ticket bar made up of detachable sections, said bar having a limited movement, couplings between said sections, a single cam bar having therein a separate cam for each coupling for operating said coupling said cams being so positioned that the movement of the cam bar Will operate the couplings in succession, said bars being so related that during the movement of the straight ticket bar the couplings will be held undisturbed by the cam bar.

6. The combination in a voting machine of a straight ticket bar made up, of detachable sections, couplings between said sections, a controlling bar having therein a separate cam for operating each coupling, said cams being positioned to operate said couplings in succession when the bar is moved through its full travel, a gage for ineasuring the travel of the bar to separately operate each coupling.

7. The combination in a voting machine ofa straight ticket bar made up of detachable sections, couplings between said sections, a controlling bar having therein a separate cain for operating each: coupling, said cams being positioned to operate said couplings insuccession when the bar is moved through its travel, a handle with recesses cut therein to measure the movement of the bar needed to operate each of on each-key to engage with both bars, said bars being capable of being positioned to engage the keys of the row between them, to prevent the movement of said keys'in either direction.

9. The combination in a voting machine of a series of pivoted keys arranged in a row, a lockout bar for locking said keys, a crank for operating' said lockout bar, said crank being dead centered on said bar when the bar is in position to lock the keys.

10. The combination in a voting machine of a plate, keys mounted thereon in a row, a straight ticket bar and a lookout bar mounted side by side parallel .to said row of keys, studs on said plate for supporting both of said bars, said bars being mounted to move longitudinally.

' In testimony'whereof lafiix my signature 'in presence of two witnesses,

WILLIAM J. LAUSTERER.

WVitnesses:

vAnna-moan B. Concnuus.

E rHEL G. MILLER. 

